From shafting and supports, to round and square rail guides, linear motion systems to pillow blocks, Thomson demonstrates how our products excel as the best solution in a wide array of industrial applications.

Glide Screws, Lead Screws, and Ball Screws

Thomson has a long history of manufacturing quality, strength, and expertise in all of its ball & lead screw products. We invented anti-friction linear technology over 60 years ago and have continued to lead the industry ever since. The Thomson brand is recognized and trusted as the global leader in linear motion technology. Offering a wide variety of standard lead and ball screw technologies, we can also customize to just about any application requirement.

VIDEO: Identifying Your Ball Screw Assembly

Here at Thomson, we have customers who are frequently looking to replace worn ball screw assemblies but they don’t know what kind of assembly they have. I will show you how to identify your existing ball screw assembly…

VIDEO: Motorized Lead Screw with Taper-Lock

Learn how to correctly service the Thomson Motorized Lead Screw in the field. The precision-engineered units combine a hybrid stepper motor and lead screw in one, compact envelope to provide clear advantages with a solution that is smaller, stronger, and more efficient than alternate technologies.

VIDEO: Glide Screw™ - Fluid Analysis Instrument

Automated diagnostic instruments continue to grow in importance in
today’s laboratories and hospitals. Space is at a premium in these
facilities and the Glide Screw™ enables more compact designs. Watch how
the Glide Screw can offer silent and maintenance free performance,
minimizing service calls and maximizing instrument availability.

VIDEO: Glide Screw™- What's the buzz all about!

The Glide Screw™ is the latest in a line of breakthrough innovations
from Thomson. Thomson has combined the features of a linear bearing and
a lead screw into one compact package. Watch this video to learn what
makes up the Glide Screw™ and how it can help you downsize your
equipment, reduce downtime, and lower overall cost of ownership.

VIDEO: Ball Screws: Design and Installation

Jeff Johnson, Thomson Screw Product Engineer, overviews the anatomy of
ball screws and their installation. He covers the function of ball
screws in application design as well as the components of a ball screw
assembly and of a ball nut. Also included is a demonstration of the
installation of a ball nut onto a screw and the ball bearing insertion
process in the event that some bearings fall out during installation.

VIDEO: Lead Screw vs. Ball Screw Technology

Jeff Johnson, Thomson Screw Product Engineer, says ball screws and lead
screws can sometimes be used in the same applications. Typically, ball
screws are used in industry applications that need a lot of load or life
while lead screws are used in smaller, lighter duty applications. Lead
screws however are highly customizable with the ability to interchange
leads, sizes, nut configurations quickly. Cost is usually not the
primary consideration when selecting a screw technology. Watch this
video to learn the differences.

VIDEO: Thomsonlinear - Products In Motion

Thomson engineers show customers our products in action. From shafting and supports, to round and square rail guides, to linear motion systems and slide tables, to ball and lead screws, to linear bearings and pillow blocks, Thomson demonstrates how our products excel as the best solution in a wide array of industrial applications.

Thread Direction

Anti-Backlash

Product Family

Compare Nuts/Screws

3D Model

Axial Load

Dynamic Load (Ball Screws)
Dynamic load rating is the maximum load which a ball bearing screw assembly can maintain for 1.0 million inches of travel (Inch Series) or 1.0 million revolutions (Metric Series).

Design Load (Lead Screws and Glide Screws™)
Maximum load at which a lead screw assembly should be operated. Not applicable for life calculations.

Screw Diameter

The nominal outside diameter of the screw shaft for a screw only. For a nut it is the nominal outside diameter of the mating screw.

Screw Lead

The axial distance a nut travels from one revolution.

Thread Direction

The direction of threads on a shaft or in a nut. Left hand means that the nut will move away if rotated counterclockwise. Right hand means the nut will move away if rotated clockwise.

Anti-Backlash

The axial free motion between the nut and screw is called backlash. An Ant-backlash nut is designed to reduce or eliminate this movement.

Product Type

Lead Screw
The lead screw assembly converts rotary motion to linear motion. The lead nut slides over the thread of the screw. Thomson lead screws excel in applications which require the “just right” solution.

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